Grapevine Cane Extracts: Raw Plant Material, Extraction Methods, Quantification, and Applications

Abstract

Grapevine canes are viticulture waste that is usually discarded without any further use. However, recent studies have shown that they contain significant concentrations of health-promoting compounds, such as stilbenes, secondary metabolites of plants produced as a response to biotic and abiotic stress from fungal disease or dryness. Stilbenes have been associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties and they have been tested as potential treatments of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and even cancer, with promising results. Stilbenes have been described in the different genus of the Vitaceae family, the Vitis genera being one of the most widely studied due to its important applications and economic impact around the world. This review presents an in-depth study of the composition and concentration of stilbenes in grapevine canes. The results show that the concentration of stilbenes in grapevine canes is highly influenced by the Vitis genus and cultivar aspects (growing conditions, ultraviolet radiation, fungal attack, etc.). Different methods for extracting stilbenes from grapevine canes have been reviewed, and the extraction conditions have also been studied, underlining the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. After the stilbenes were extracted, they were analyzed to determine the stilbene composition and concentration. Analytical techniques have been employed with this aim, in most cases using liquid chromatography, coupled with others such as mass spectrometry and/or nuclear magnetic resonance to achieve the individual quantification. Finally, stilbene extracts may be applied in multiple fields based on their properties. The five most relevant are preservative, antifungal, insecticide, and biostimulant applications. The current state-of-the-art of the above applications and their prospects are discussed.

Vine Shoots as a Source of Trans-Resveratrol and ε-Viniferin: A Study of 23 Italian Varieties

“…In fact, stilbenes have been isolated and identified in at least 72 plant species belonging to 31 genera and 12 families, including Vitaceae, in which these compounds are present in lignified stem tissue, in grape berries and in wines [ 11 , 13 , 14 ]. Several reviews have indicated that winery wastes and by-products are rich in stilbenes, which have been extracted and applied in multiple fields based on their beneficial properties [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…One of the possible applications studied is their use as an alternative to oak chips as an enological coadjuvant to improve the sensorial profile of wines, [ 24 , 25 ]. Moreover, recent studies have shown that vine shoots are rich in bioactive compounds, such as stilbenes, that make this by-product an untapped source of these compounds with important antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-aging properties and multiple possible applications [ 15 ]. Up to 41 stilbenes have been found in vine shoots and among these, trans -resveratrol (Rsv) and ε -viniferin (Vf) are the most abundant [ 15 , 26 ].…”

Antiviral Activity of Vitis vinifera Leaf Extract against SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1

“…Very recently, we characterized the phenolic constituents, antioxidant, antibacterial, and, mainly, the antiherpetic activity of grape cane extracts derived from typical cultivars of Southern Italy [11], i.e., Greco, Aglianico, and Fiano. We prepared various extracts in a range of different pHs (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), demonstrating that the extraction at pH 13.00 was the optimal condition, since the phenolic yield was the highest. We described the presence of 75 compounds with different abundance profiles at various pHs and, interestingly, six of them were identified for the first time in grape canes.…”

“…Grapevine is a plant rich in bioactive compounds [ 5 , 6 ], known for its therapeutic effects. The grape extract was studied for a long time for its hepatoprotective [ 7 ], hypoglycemic [ 8 ], cardio-protective [ 9 ], antioxidant [ 10 , 11 ], antibacterial [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], and antiviral activity [ 11 , 14 ] which are due to the high levels of polyphenolic compounds found in grapes skin, seeds, and stem. The anti-cancer effect, that has long been studied over the years, is attributable to the consistent antioxidant activity of these molecules [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Biomolecules from Plant Residues

“…The contribution of Aliaño-Gonzalez et al [15] to this Special Issue is an in-depth review of the composition and concentration of stilbenes in grapevine canes, which are the waste generated in the vineyard after the harvest. Different methods of stilbene extraction from grapevine canes and the extraction conditions are also compiled, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.…”